Your supply Kit

 
ASSEMBLE YOUR FIVE-PART SUPPLY KIT

Your experience after an emergency can range from inconvenient to disastrous. Being prepared with the right supplies can make all the difference. You can add extras that match your family's needs. Supply Kit Checklist

1. Home Water

Store a one-week supply of water. Water is more essential to survival than any other supply. Replace supply every six months to a year.

  • Store one gallon per person per day for drinking (extra for sanitation and pets)
  • Store water tightly in clean plastic containers such as soft drink bottles; avoid glass containers or gallon water jugs which are likely to break
  • Store in a cool place away from sunlight
  • Whether you store tap or bottled water, replace your water supply with fresh water every six months to a year

2. Home Food

Store a one-week supply of non-perishable food that doesn't need refrigeration, cooking, or water. Every six months, pick up a few replacement items for your kit every trip to the store.

  • Precooked food in a can or package, including beans, pasta, vegetables, fruit, juice, milk, meat, fish, peanut butter, dried fruit, unsalted nuts, and crackers
  • Manual can opener for canned food
  • Staples such as sugar, honey, tea, coffee
  • Vitamins, protein energy bars, comfort snacks
  • Special food for infants and those with allergies

3. Home Supplies

These are essential supplies to have ready for use after an emergency. Put contents in a large plastic garbage can with wheels or other container that you can easily move.

  • Battery/solar-powered/hand crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Battery lanterns or flashlights, extra batteries
  • First aid kit and instruction guide
  • Moist towelettes, sturdy garbage bags, twist ties, and plastic bucket for emergency toilet
  • Empty garbage can to store waste
  • Extra warm blankets or sleeping bags for each person in case of cold temperatures
  • Sturdy gloves for cleaning up broken glass or debris
  • Scissors, duct tape, and plastic sheets/bags to cover broken windows or create shelter
  • Bungee cords, utility knife, crowbar, and other tools to help repair damage or create shelter
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off gas, water, electricity

4. To Go Bags (or backpack, one for each person)

These are supplies you can use at home or to take with you in case of a home evacuation (keep to-go bags under your bed or close to an exit). Make extra to-go bags to keep in your car and at work.

  • Local street maps and shelter information
  • Copies of vital documents ID in a waterproof bag or wallet (passport, emergency contact list, insurance/bank info, and family photos for identification purposes).
  • One-month supply of prescription medicines, refilled before the expiration date
  • List of allergies/medicine/dosages for entire family
  • Emergency cash and change
  • Pocket flashlight and batteries
  • Pocketknife, tape, permanent marker, notepad
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust masks to help filter contaminated air
  • Sturdy shoes, warm coat, compact rain poncho, and a hat with a brim/visor for warmth and sun/rain protection
  • Toothbrush, small container of sunblock lotion, tampons, lip balm, mints
  • Energy bars and small bottle of water

5. Extras

  • Emergency reference information or printouts from www.ready.gov
  • Household unscented chlorine bleach for water purification
  • Extra pair of prescription glasses
  • Books, games, puzzles for children
  • Special care items for infants, children, seniors, and people with disabilities
  • Family camping tent if you have to sleep outside
  • Camping mess kits or paper cups/plates, disposable utensils, and paper towels
  • Camping or Sterno stove, fuel, and matches to use if you are sure there is no danger of gas leaks or fire
  • Disposable camera to record damage
  • Food, water, blankets, and medicine for your pets

Your kids

 
What Kids and Parents Should Know and Do

Include your children in planning for an emergency. Teach them how to get help and what to do in different situations. Practice your household disaster plan with your children and quiz them about preparedness information.

Checklist for What Kids Should Do
  • Practice how and when to call 911.
  • Memorize family contact information and carry an emergency contact card clipped inside a backpack or a pocket.
  • Never touch wires lying on the ground or hanging from poles because of electricity.
  • Learn how to identify the smell of gas. If you smell it, tell a grown-up or leave the building.
Checklist for What Parents Should Do
  • Include your children in family discussions and planning for emergency safety.
  • Find out details of your child's school emergency plan.
  • Find out where you should pick up your child during a school evacuation.
  • Pre-authorize a friend or relative to pick up your children if you can’t be there.
  • Ensure that the school has up-to-date contact information for you and designated relatives or friends.
  • Role-play with children to help them remain calm in emergencies. Practice basic emergency exercises such as Drop, Cover and Hold and Stop, Drop and Roll, and go over evacuation routes.
  • Role-play with children as to what they should do if a parent is suddenly sick or injured.
  • Role-play with children on what to say when calling 911 in an emergency.
Checklist for Emotional Reassurance

Disasters cause fear and anxiety in everyone, but children feel these emotions more strongly. If you react calmly and reassure your children, you provide a model for how they might feel and react.

  • Make sure one adult will always be with children.
  • Maintain daily routines as much as possible to help reduce your child’s fear and anxiety.
  • Verbally reassure your child often with firmness and love.
  • Present a picture of the emergency situation that is realistic and honest, but also offers hope for improvement. For instance, “Tonight we will stay in a shelter. I’m not sure how many nights we’ll be there, but we will do our best to come home soon.”
  • Imaginary fears are very real for children in emergencies. Be sure to take these feelings seriously and offer reassurance that things will get better.
  • Encourage children to talk, ask questions, draw, or describe their feelings on a daily basis.
  • Put a favorite toy, book, or game in your child’s to-go bag along with a family photo.
More Resources
  • Great interactive online learning for kids at Ready.gov: Ready Kids
  • A multi-lingual guide for kids is available from the New York City Office of Emergency Management.

Your Home

Homeless shelter programs are intended to be short-term; each individual’s length of stay in the program will vary, but generally lengths of stay may be between 4-6 months or longer. The intention of a shelter program is to provide temporary housing while assisting individuals in finding permanent housing. Case management services will be focused on long term housing interventions.

Your Utilities

The County’s Human Services Agency and Department of Housing are conducting a process to select an experienced non-profit agency to provide the shelter services on site. The County is collaborating with the City of Redwood City on the process of planning for provider selection and overall program planning. The non-profit agency will have extensive experience in providing shelter services. The County will work closely with the selected non-profit agency on the implementation and launch of the program and the County will provide ongoing oversight and support of the program going forward.

Your Special Needs

No, this program is not for those needing isolation due to COVID-19. This program will be for people experiencing homelessness, focusing on those who are vulnerable (elderly and/or with existing medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, etc.).

Your Pets

The County will be working on preparations in the coming weeks and the first clients are expected to begin moving on site in late February or early March 2021. The state Project Homekey initiative requires that the program be at least 50% occupied within 90 days of acquisition and 100% occupied within two months after that. The County will work closely with the City of Redwood City and community stakeholders throughout the planning and implementation process.